Arrogance and harm

When I said I was still angry about The End of Alzheimer's, it was a combination of putting a big burden on people, but only offering for false hope. 

I'd already had a similar experience. It was more personal, but the lie was dispelled pretty quickly. It could have been worse.

It was the bad doctor friend. She has come up a few times before, but this was when we were still going on walks together.

When we were talking about my issues instead of her issues (which was not very often), dementia would come up a lot. She started talking about how it could be fixed with coconut oil and she wished she could take charge of a memory care facility, start giving it to the residents, and watch everyone be amazed by their improvement.

I was pretty sure she was full of it, but there was some desperation that made me ask for specifics. 

I don't think I did it on that walk, when she was bragging, but on the next one after mulling it over. If she was so sure, what amounts would she use? Were there any studies or guides that I could read?

Part of my skepticism was probably that I had seen coconut oil listed as a miracle cure for other things, like apple cider vinegar or essential oils. I didn't think it was likely, but if there was a chance I was going to try it.

When pressed, all of the confidence faded away. Then she was shrugging and mumbling and there was absolutely no reason to place her at the head of a memory care facility.

I bet it would not really have been possible to mend her daughter's cavities with a mineral oil rinse. 

It was disappointing, but I was at least partially prepared for the disappointment. Later when I realized that she was not really that supportive shortly after she turned abusive... I did not end up being devastated at the loss.

More recently I saw a forum post where a man who recently learned his mother has Stage IV cancer was wondering about Ivermectin. He knew it was a long shot, but was hoping.

That's an anti-parasite medication, so probably not.

Based on the grammar and other factors, he did not come across as a particularly bright person. It also came through that the thought of losing his mother was really hurting him.

Mentioning that particular medication makes it likely that he is a Trump voter. That would go along with the other indicators that he is not bright.

He also still has feelings. I don't know how much harm he actively wishes on liberals and people of color, but he would want health for this mother. I can relate to that.

Unscrupulous people have done many things to lower the possibility of good health outcomes for many people, including his mother. 

That's not just turning people away from vaccines and toward specific medications that would not work for the intended goals. That also has to do with funding and education... there is a long list of issues there.

I am just thinking about how some of the drivers know what they are doing, while some will take a little bit of hearsay and run with it until they have to back it up. They never learn any humility from brushing up against their wrongness. 

Different motivations; same results.